Falling Asleep in the Garden – FORGIVENESS

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness

of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace”

- Ephesians 1:7

By now, we’ve come to realize that the Lenten season is a Journey to the Cross. We began our walk through the garden of Gethsemane by reflecting on the things that separate us from Christ. Last we went back to the garden and talked about confessing our sins with a sincere heart.

This week we will be exploring the topic of forgiveness. Even while we were sinners, God sent his Son to die in our place. Jesus took the journey to the cross, experienced pain and suffering ... and ultimately died for our sins. He carried our burdens and took our place on the cross.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” - John 3:16

Are you beginning to sense the depth of God’s love for you?

As we continue on the path from ashes to glory we need to realize that this GIFT of forgiveness occurred once for all time. It is God’s free and loving gift to us. A gift we cannot earn and one we definitely do not deserve.

PREPARING OUR HEARTS: Let’s stop along the path this week to smell the roses. A few years ago I came across the story below and love to pull it out at Easter time. It’s a great reminder that we need to pass along the same love and forgiveness that God has shown to us, to others who join us on our life journey.

The Fragrance of My Savior

by Sharon Lee Roberts

I was running bath water the other night when I looked into my basket of bath salts and little soaps. There was a small package with a beautiful floral print on the front. It was called “Essence of Rose.”

I thought about the name. I smelled the fragrance. It smelled just like a rose. Though it wasn’t a rose, it carried the rose’s fragrance.

I remembered that special title for Jesus found in the bible “the rose of Sharon” (Song of Solomon 2:1). I remembered that I, as a Christian, am to carry the fragrance of Christ, whom I follow.

Also, I am to reflect his image. Do I reflect Jesus Christ? Will people see him shine through me? I hope that others can see Jesus in me. I know that I can be more like him only as I submit to God’s will for me, to his working in me. For it is God who does the work. The process may be painful, but I need to endure it so that the desired results in my character are produced.

I pray that I have the fragrance of gentleness, and the scent of forgiveness and forbearance. I pray that meekness shines through me.

As I inhale that beautiful fragrance of “essence of rose” and close my eyes to envision a rose, I pray that the world will sense in my life the fragrance of my Savior.

This week I pray that we will truly understand the power of forgiveness,
and the joy of everlasting life that goes along with it.

Counting down to Calvary ...

God’s Peace, Donna Weaver

Kidz Topic ... TRUST/ FORGIVENESS

This is a new segment of my blog where I will be sharing a variety of thoughts, scripture verses, and "sparkle" ideas just for kids. Feel free to pass them on to your children, grandchildren, or any other young people that God has put in your life.

KIDZ ☮ PEACE...  The last two weeks we’ve been talking about “friends” and “respect.” Without one, it’s hard to have the other. It’s also hard to have friends and respect without “trust and forgiveness.”

In today’s world, kids have to deal with so many pressures and concerns such as self-image, safety and violence, peer pressure, family financial struggles, emotions, divorce, drug and alcohol abuse, social networking, home life, eating disorders, dating, pressure to be the best, blended families, and so much more. These issues make it important to have people in your life that you can trust.

Trust means having confidence and believing in the good qualities or abilities of another person or thing. Who are some of the people you trust?  What is it about them that makes you feel that way?  What does trustworthy mean to you?

1. Qualities of a trustworthy person:
• Honest
• Dependable
• Responsible
• Trusty
• Truthful
• Follows rules
• Reliable, dependable
• Always keeps a promise
• Never mean
• Faithful

2. Trusting the Lord: Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” If we trust in the Lord, we will find peace, joy, and hope.

We need to trust that no matter what is going on in our life, God has a plan for each one of us. He is always with us and wants what is best for us. Does this mean that we will never have problems? The answer is NO - but during those tough times, we can remember that God hears our prayers, and always keeps His promises. God CAN be trusted.

So, how do we find our trust in the Lord? First, we need to believe that what the Lord teaches us is the truth. Next, we must respect His commandments. And finally, we must understand that certain things are non-negotiable – which means, God has set certain things in place for our good and the good of others – no matter what we think. His Word teaches us ways to handle things that happen in our everyday lives. We can also learn how to develop healthy habits, make smart decisions, and learn from our mistakes.

3. Forgiving others: Sometimes people we trust disappoint us, hurt us, and betray our trust. Talking about it with that person or a responsible adult will help us figure out if the person’s actions were on purpose or accidental. We need to remember that no one is perfect and everyone makes mistakes. When we feel that we can no longer trust a person, we may be angry and want to look for ways to get revenge. That should never be the answer. We need to deal with our feelings and find a way to offer forgiveness. It is important to understand that forgiveness doesn’t mean that we have to trust that person again. It may take time to build that trust again, or it may be that we just can’t trust that person anymore and choose not to be around them.

4. We’ve been Forgiven ... The Bible gives us one of the best examples of forgiveness – it is the Parable of the Prodigal Son. You can read it in Luke 15:11-32. Forgiving others can be one of the hardest things we will ever have to do, but the result is feeling free and at peace.

Christians are supposed to forgive others as we’ve been forgiven, because we understand that it is God’s role to judge others, not ours. We are all sinners, but through our faith and Christ’s death, our sins have been forgiven.

5. What does God’s Word tell us? When we go to God in prayer and read our Bible we can find words that instruct us on trust and forgiveness. Check out these verses: TRUST - Psalm 37:3-6, Psalm 119:66, 138, Proverbs 11:13, Romans 15:13, 1 Timothy 1:15, and FORGIVENESS - Ephesians 4:32, Mark 11:25-26, Colossians 3:13, Luke 6:36-38, Acts 13:38.

Kidz Thought for the Week: “There is no love without forgiveness, and there is no forgiveness without love.” from Bryant H. McGill

Keeping you in my prayers. 'til next week ... ask God to help you open your heart to trust and forgive others.

God's Peace, Donna

Who Stole my Jellybeans?

“Never forget the three powerful resources you always

have available to you: love, prayer, and forgiveness.”

- H. Jackson Brown Jr.

Do you remember getting mad at your brother or sister when they bit the ear off of your chocolate bunny? Or what about your friend that ate all of your purple jelly beans? As kids we probably got over it the very next day (if not sooner). I think how silly those “crisis” seem now but somewhere along life’s journey, I’m sure we’ve each held on to something that someone has done to us that we’ve deemed unfair, or unforgiveable!

One of the last things Jesus said while hanging from the cross was, “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do” – Luke 23:34. Then He died on a cross to pay for our sins, and on the third day He rose from the grave. Jesus showed us how He obediently walked the path in the plan that God had for Him.

This week as we begin our own personal journey through Holy Week, I’d like to ask you two questions...

1) Is there someone who you need to make peace with?

2) Can you follow Christ’s example and forgive those who have mistreated you?

Forgiveness is the key to serenity, but true peace is hard to find in a bitter mind. If Christ could pray a prayer of forgiveness for those who were putting Him to death, shouldn’t we be able to forgive others who have hurt or mistreated us? Despite what you may be going through today, can you look past your own problems and extend forgiveness to others? Forgiveness does not come easy, but the best reason to forgive is because Jesus commanded us to forgive.

“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” - Colossians 3:13

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” – Luke 6:37

Jesus' dying words on the cross are a powerful example of how you and I ought to treat those who have mistreated us. Are you willing to follow His perfect example in every area of your life? Easter should be more than chocolate bunnies and jellybeans. This year will you make it about forgiveness? Will you extend forgiveness to those who don't deserve it, just like Jesus?

I challenge you to pick up your cross today… and live out the life of forgiveness Christ has given you!

God’s Peace, Donna Weaver

"Blessed are those to whom Easter is not a hunt... but a find;

not a greeting... but a proclamation;

not an outward fashion... but inward grace;

not a day... but an eternity."

- Anderson